College
Highly-trained College Persistence Advisors (CPAs) support SEO Scholars through every academic, career, and personal, challenge they may face as low-income, first-generation college students. The impact is powerful: SEO Scholars achieve an 85% college graduation rate and are well prepared to pursue economically viable and productive careers or graduate-level education.
“’No back row in SEO’ is the mantra that helped me push myself. I realized that sitting further in the back only distracted me. Sitting in the front of the class is the main reason why I did so well this semester!”
Onike B., CUNY, Brooklyn College
Our Program Includes:
College Readiness Workshops
SEO Scholars attend a series of workshops before beginning their first year of college, and then again during college. Topics include adjustment to college life, homesickness, health issues, time management, course selection, relationship-building with professors, and effective study strategies.
One-On-One Support
Every SEO Scholar receives continual and individualized one-on-one academic, career, and personal support guidance throughout the entirety of their college years.
Career Exploration and Networking Events
SEO Scholars work with their advisors to explore multiple career paths based on personal preferences and academic aptitude. The process is ongoing, dynamic, and fully utilizes the wealth of resources from SEO’s robust network of current Scholars, alumni, and friends.
Intensive Career Advising
To ensure that SEO Scholars have access to career-critical internships, we provide our Scholars with intensive career advising. This includes ongoing resume drafting and updating, cover letter guidance, and in-person and web-based mock interviews, all aligned with internship search and placement support. In 2022, 500+ Scholars in college secured professional internships, jobs, or educational summer opportunities at 300+ institutions, including LEGO, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, and Pfizer. Learn more about some of these great organizations here.
We serve 1,212 Scholars in college, attending 196 colleges and universities, in 34 different states.
85%
of SEO Scholars graduate from college and earn a Bachelor's degree.